Improved railroad-switch



tld 'tant and l een.

Letters Patent No. 100,101, dated Februar/ry 22, 1870.

IMPROVED RAILROAD-SWITCH.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part o the same.

tor ou the train of cars to operate the switch, aml the arrangement is, moreover, such that the operator may, by placing the operating bar in proper position, cause a misplaced switch to be thrown into line, andthus prevent running od the track. For said purposes,-the nature .of this invention is in the'use ot' a series of hinged levers to operate shafts and other intermediate devices, by which the switch-bar is thrown and the switch thus moved;

'lo enable those herein skilled to make and use said improved invention, I will now more fully -describe the same, referring to the accompanying Figure l as a plan; to

Figure 2 as a sectional elevation; to

Figure 3 as an end View.

In said ligures- A represents the main line of'track;

B, the side track; and

O is the switch-rail, pivoted at ends as usual and commonly done, and operated hy the switch-bar D to connect either with the line A or the track B, in the manner now usual and generally indicated in the said gures.

In order that said switch-rails may be thrownv by the operator from Vthe car X, I arrange the. slide "x, moved longitudinally by the operator by the pivoted haml-leverx, said parts being properly secured on, say, a rear oar of a train and on the locomotive engine.

Theslide thus placed operates the knee-levers E E' and F F', placed atr the side of the track, and connect ing with the shaft-s G. As the car passes by the said levers, the slide :v acts to depress one of s aid lever devices, and thus to turn said shaft, it being in the discretion of the operator which of said devices shall be acted upon, and the movement of the switch being thus determined.

The levers E-and E and F and F. are linked together, the levers E and F being permitted to slide in stirrup supports e and f. A Y

By the operation of the shafts G, the arms g, and through the intermediate connecting-rods H, the bellcrank lever I is operated, and hereti'om, by the conmeeting-rodv K, the switch-bar D is thrown to operate the switch as desired. Said devices for communicat- Howing motion from said shafts G to the switch -bar being dependent upon the place and general arrangementot' parts, and being readily adapted by an ordinary lnechanic. All said devices are properly supported and secured usually upon ties.

lu order that the switch-har D may not be moved when not desired by concussion of passing trains, I arrange the -hicking-block d. This is ot' triangular form, and vsecured by the. pivot d1 to said switch-bar. Said block abuts at its lower edge against the. checkplate d2, secured upon the stand or frame D, to which the'switch-barfis pivnted, at d. By arranging said pivot d on the tie D2, the connecting-rod D. fronts-aid switch-bar to the rails C heilig slightly above, it will Le seen that the block l acts' at a great leverage, to` prevent concussions upon vthe rails C from operating said switch-bar. On the other hand, the connecting 4rod K being somewhat above the attachment ot' the block 11,'the power transmitted through said connecting-rod is advantageously used to move the switch-bar D and its locking-blockcl. llhe arrangement is, therefore, such that the operator may readily movethe switch-bar and switch by the level-x and slide x, while at the same time the switch is well secured against any movement which might be caused from the switchrails G themselves.

It' deemed advisable, a spring may be used to holdthe locking-block d in the position given thereto in its operation, as heretofore described.

The knee-levers E Pfand F F will beplaced so that trains approaching the switch from either direction may readily operate the same.

As a furthersecurity, a locking-block similar to d may be attached to each ofthe switch-rails G, so that in moving the'said rails they will be lift-ed up slightly astle block is turned then, as the effect of a train is to hold down the rails G,'the blocks d would give additional security against improper movement of said switch-rails.,

Having thus fully described my said invention,

'What I claim is- 1. The arrangement of the vslide :l: with the levers E E F F', the shaft G, arm f/,and connecting devices H I K, with the switch-levers and switch-rails, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2.. The switch-bar D, pivoted at d3, when combined with the. locking-block d and check-plate d2, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.. y

` JOHN L. ARMS.

Witnesses:

GEO. P. HERTHEL, Jr., H. G. WATKINs 

